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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 23, 2026

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The fact the Cuban economy cannot afford oil imports at market rates is a result of their mismanagement, corruption, and incompetence.

Cuban hyper-agency! Do you think that US sanctions played any role in this state of affairs?

As nice as it would be, the United States is not actually capable of trashing an economy by withholding trade. There are other countries out there that Cuba can trade with. If they had a system that worked, they could have enough funds to buy gas. Cutting off trade obviously isn’t great for their economy, but if they managed their country well it would just be a drag on growth.

There are other countries out there that Cuba can trade with.

Are you aware of how the sanctions actually work? Other countries who trade with Cuba also get penalised for violating the blockade. They've actually done remarkably well given their conditions, and even train enough doctors that they send them abroad to assist in natural disasters etc.

Are you aware of how the sanctions actually work? Other countries who trade with Cuba also get penalised for violating the blockade.

I'm not aware of how the sanctions work. Please tell me what penalties has the US imposed on China over the years for trading with Cuba? Similarly, what penalties has the US imposed on Mexico for trading with Cuba?

Also, what does the word "blockade" mean to you? Are you claiming that the US physically prevents ships from calling on Cuban ports?